Unholy Player

The office was simple, yet bright—sunlight poured in through tall double-pane windows that lined the walls. One side of the room was occupied by an imposing, double-wide bookshelf filled with thick volumes, their spines worn and aged. Beside it stood a large ceramic pot holding a slender, leafless plant that resembled a miniature tree, more sculpture than flora. At the center of the room stood a broad, well-organized desk.

"Come, take a seat," Henry said, gesturing to the chairs in front of the desk before settling into his own. Though his posture remained composed, the fatigue in his eyes betrayed him. The streaks of white in his hair had spread further, and his once-warm hazel eyes looked dull and washed out. Faint dark circles under his eyes hinted at long nights with little or no sleep.

"I assume you’re here about your mother, right?" Henry asked with a deep sigh. The situation had already spiraled far beyond his control.

"Before that, I need to say something," Victor interjected, unable to keep quiet. "Did you check the latest power rankings?"

"No? What am I supposed to see?" Henry replied, raising an eyebrow at his son’s sudden question.

"Just check it. You’ll understand," Victor said with a grin. As his father turned toward the monitor with curiosity, Victor casually picked up the desk phone and dialed. "Hey, Margaret. Send us three coffees—two bitter, one overloaded with sugar. Thanks."

Henry frowned at his son but said nothing, turning back to scan the latest submitted data. "Hmm? So, you got first place, huh?" He said with a smile, glancing at Adyr before continuing to examine the results.

He watched the endurance test with mild surprise. But when the strength evaluation came up, his eyes widened.

"Boy, how many Sparks have you captured so far?" He asked, unable to hold back.

"4, including the one I used for my evolution," Adyr replied calmly.

"4?!" Victor shouted before his father could react. He’d assumed there were only three. That alone had been shocking—but four?